Novodevichy Cemetery ( rus, Новоде́вичье кла́дбище, Novodevichye kladbishche) is a cemetery in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

. It lies next to the southern wall of the 16th-century

Novodevichy Convent Novodevichy Convent, also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery (russian: Новоде́вичий монасты́рь, Богоро́дице-Смоле́нский монасты́рь), is probably the best-known clois ...

, which is the city's third most popular tourist site.

History

The cemetery was designed by

Ivan Mashkov Ivan Pavlovich Mashkov (russian: Ива́н Па́влович Машко́в, 13 January 1867 – 1945) was a Russian architect and preservationist, notable for surveying and restoration of Dormition Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin, Novodevichy C ...

and inaugurated in 1898. Its importance dates from the 1930s, when the necropolises of the medieval Muscovite monasteries ( Simonov, Danilov, Donskoy) were scheduled for demolition. Only the Donskoy survived the

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secreta ...

era relatively intact. The remains of many famous Russians buried in other abbeys, such as

Nikolai Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol; uk, link=no, Мико́ла Васи́льович Го́голь, translit=Mykola Vasyliovych Hohol; (russian: Яновский; uk, Яновський, translit=Yanovskyi) ( – ) was a Russian novelist, ...

and

Sergey Aksakov Sergey Timofeyevich Aksakov (russian: Серге́й Тимофе́евич Акса́ков) (—) was a 19th-century Russian literary figure remembered for his semi-autobiographical tales of family life, as well as his books on hunting and fi ...

, were disinterred and reburied at the Novodevichy. A 19th-century necropolis within the walls of the Novodevichy convent, which contained the graves of about 2000 Russian noblemen and university professors, also underwent reconstruction. The vast majority of graves were destroyed. It was at that time that the remains of

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

were moved outside the monastery walls. His grave served as the kernel of the so-called "cherry orchard" – a section of the cemetery which contains the graves of

Constantin Stanislavski Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski ( Alekseyev; russian: Константин Сергеевич Станиславский, p=kənstɐnʲˈtʲin sʲɪrˈgʲejɪvʲɪtɕ stənʲɪˈslafskʲɪj; 7 August 1938) was a seminal Soviet Russian th ...

and the leading actors of his company.

Interments

During the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

, burial in the Novodevichy Cemetery was second in prestige only to burial in the

Kremlin Wall Necropolis The Kremlin Wall Necropolis was the national cemetery for the Soviet Union. Burials in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis in Moscow began in November 1917, when 240 pro-Bolshevik individuals who died during the Moscow Bolshevik Uprising were buried in m ...

. Among the Soviet leaders,

Nikita Khrushchev Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and chairman of the country's Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964. During his rule, Khrushchev s ...

and

Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet politician who served as the 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's dissolution in 1991. He served a ...

would be buried there. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin Wall is no longer used for burials and the Novodevichy Cemetery is used for only the most symbolically significant burials. In 1997, former premier

Nikolai Tikhonov Nikolai Aleksandrovich Tikhonov (russian: Николай Александрович Тихонов; ukr, Микола Олександрович Тихонов; – 1 June 1997) was a Soviet Russian-Ukrainian statesman during the Cold War. H ...

was buried in the cemetery at state expense (since he didn't have any money of his own). In April 2007, within one week both the first

President of the Russian Federation The president of the Russian Federation ( rus, Президент Российской Федерации, Prezident Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the head of state of the Russian Federation. The president leads the executive branch of the federal ...

Boris Yeltsin Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin ( rus, Борис Николаевич Ельцин, p=bɐˈrʲis nʲɪkɐˈla(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈjelʲtsɨn, a=Ru-Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin.ogg; 1 February 1931 – 23 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian politician wh ...

and cellist

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered by many to be the greatest cellist of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was wel ...

were buried there. Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, musicians, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists. More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy. There is scant space for more burials. A new national cemetery is under construction in

Mytishchi Mytishchi ( rus, Мыти́щи, p=mɨˈtʲiɕːɪ) is a city and the administrative center of Mytishchinsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which lies 19 km northeast of Russia's capital Moscow on the Yauza River and the Moscow–Yarosla ...

north of Moscow. Notable burials include

Dmitry Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throughout his life as a major compo ...

Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''., group=n (27 April .S. 15 April1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, p ...

and

. The cemetery has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. It is divided into the old (Divisions 1–4), new (Divisions 5–8) and newest (Divisions 9–11) sections; maps are available at the cemetery office.

Monuments

File:Grave of Nikita Khrushchev Tomb.jpg,

File:BorisYeltsinMemorial.JPG,

File:Bulgakow Grab.JPG,

Mikhail Bulgakov Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov ( rus, links=no, Михаил Афанасьевич Булгаков, p=mʲɪxɐˈil ɐfɐˈnasʲjɪvʲɪtɕ bʊlˈɡakəf; – 10 March 1940) was a Soviet writer, medical doctor, and playwright active in the fir ...

File:Novodevicij Cemetery Anton Chekhov.JPG,

File:Post-2009 gravesite of Nikolai Gogol in Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow, Russia.jpg,

File:A grave of Dmitry Shostakovichi.jpg,

Dmitri Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throug ...

File:Grave of Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev.jpg,

and his wife

Mira Mendelson Mariya-Cecilia Abramovna Mendelson-Prokofieva ( rus, Мари́я-Цеци́лия Абра́мовна Мендельсо́н-Проко́фьева), typically referred to as Mira Mendelson ( rus, Ми́ра Алекса́ндровна Мен ...

File:V Majakovskij.jpg,

Vladimir Mayakovsky Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (, ; rus, Влади́мир Влади́мирович Маяко́вский, , vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪtɕ məjɪˈkofskʲɪj, Ru-Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky.ogg, links=y; – 14 Apr ...

File:02 serov.JPG,

Valentin Serov Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (russian: Валенти́н Алекса́ндрович Серо́в; 19 January 1865 – 5 December 1911) was a Russian painter and one of the premier portrait artists of his era. Life and work Youth and educ ...

File:Эйзенштейн.jpg,

Sergei Eisenstein Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein (russian: Сергей Михайлович Эйзенштейн, p=sʲɪrˈɡʲej mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ ɪjzʲɪnˈʂtʲejn, 2=Sergey Mikhaylovich Eyzenshteyn; 11 February 1948) was a Soviet film director, screenw ...

File:Mikhail Gorbachev.grave.jpg,

File:Кошевой.jpg,

Pyotr Koshevoy Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy ( ua, Петро Кирилович Кошовий; russian: Пётр Кириллович Кошевой; – 30 August 1976) was a Soviet military commander and a Marshal of the Soviet Union. Koshevoy was born to a ...

File:Mayor-moscow-yury-mikhailovich-luzhkov-grave-novodevichy-cemetery-moscow 248906-3680.jpg, Yury Mikhailovich Luzhkov File:Могила композитора Бориса Александрова.JPG,

Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov (russian: Борис Александрович Александров; 4 August 1905, Bologoye – 17 June 1994, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian composer and, from 1946 to 1986, the second head of the Alexandrov ...

File:Tumba de Aleksandr Rodímtsev y su esposa.jpg,

Alexander Rodimtsev Alexander Ilich Rodimtsev (; 8 March 1905 13 April 1977) was a colonel general in the Red Army during World War II and who was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1937 and 1945. Career Rodimtsev joined the Red Army in the 1920s. He fo ...

File:Tumba de Iván Petrov.jpg,

Ivan Yefimovich Petrov Ivan Yefimovich Petrov (russian: Иван Ефимович Петров; – 7 April 1958) was a Soviet Army General from 1941. Early military career Born in Trubchevsk in 1896, he began his military service in the Red Army in 1918, the year whe ...

File:Надгробие на могиле Кирилла Семёновича Москаленко.jpg,

Kirill Moskalenko Kirill Semyonovich Moskalenko (russian: Кирилл Семёнович Москаленко, uk, Кирило Семенович Москаленко; May 11, 1902 – June 17, 1985) was a Marshal of the Soviet Union. A member of the Soviet Arm ...

Notable Graves

The following noteworthy graves, among others, can be found at Novodevichy Cemetery: *

(1809-1852) *

(1791-1859) *

(1860-1904) *

(1865-1911) *

(1893-1930) *

Nikolay Andreyev Nikolay Andreyevich Andreyev (russian: Николай Андреевич Андреев; – 24 December 1932) was a Russian sculptor, graphic artist and stage designer. As a young man Andreyev studied with Sergey Volnukhin and in 1902 became ...

(1873–1932) *

Nadezhda Alliluyeva Nadezhda Sergeyevna Alliluyeva (russian: link=no, Надежда Сергеевна Аллилуева; – 9 November 1932) was the second wife of Joseph Stalin. She was born in Baku to a friend of Stalin, a fellow revolutionary, and was ra ...

(1901-1932) *

Konstantin Stanislavski Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski ( Alekseyev; russian: Константин Сергеевич Станиславский, p=kənstɐnʲˈtʲin sʲɪrˈgʲejɪvʲɪtɕ stənʲɪˈslafskʲɪj; 7 August 1938) was a seminal Russian Soviet Fe ...

(1863-1938) *

(1891-1940) *

Ivan Shadr Ivan Shadr (russian: Иван Шадр), pseudonym of Ivan Dmitriyevich Ivanov (russian: Ива́н Дми́триевич Ивано́в; — 3 April 1941) was a Russian/Soviet sculptor and medalist who took his pseudonym after his hometow ...

(1887–1941) *

Demyan Bedny Yefim Alekseevich Pridvorov ( rus, Ефи́м Алексе́евич Придво́ров, p=jɪˈfʲim ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ prʲɪˈdvorəf, a=Yefim Alyeksyeyevich Pridvorov.ru.vorb.oga; – May 25, 1945), better known by the pen name D ...

(1883–1945) *

Nikolai Podvoisky Nikolai Ilyich Podvoisky (russian: Николай Ильич Подвойский; February 16 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S_February_4.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>O.S_February_4">Old_Style_and_New_S ...

(1880-1948) *

(1898-1948) *

Yevgeniy Abalakov Yevgeniy Mikhaylovich Abalakov (russian: Евгений Михайлович Абалаков; 23 March 1948Great Russian Encyclopedia (2006), Moscow: Bol'shaya Rossiyskaya Enciklopediya Publisher, vol. 1, p. 9) was a Soviet mountaineer and sculpt ...

(1907-1948) *

Vera Mukhina Vera Ignatyevna Mukhina (russian: Ве́ра Игна́тьевна Му́хина; lv, Vera Muhina; french: Vera Moukhina; – 6 October 1953) was a prominent Soviet sculptor and painter. She was nicknamed "the queen of Soviet sculpture". B ...

(1889–1953) *

(1891-1953) *

Aleksey Abrikosov Aleksey Ivanovich Abrikosov (russian: Алексе́й Ива́нович Абрико́сов; – 9 April 1955) was a Russian/Soviet pathologist and a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (since 1939) and the Soviet Academy of Medical Scie ...

(1875-1955) *

Karo Halabyan Karo Semyonovich Halabyan (russian: Каро Семёнович Алабян, hy, Կարո Հալաբյան) (26 July 1897, Elisabethpol, now Ganja - 5 January 1959, Moscow) was a Soviet Armenian architect. He earned the title of emeritus art wor ...

(1897-1959) *

Daniil Andreyev Daniil Leonidovich Andreyev ( rus, Дании́л Леони́дович Андре́ев, p=dənʲɪˈil lʲɪɐˈnʲidəvʲɪtɕ ɐnˈdrʲejɪf, a=Daniil Lyeonidovich Andryeyev.ru.vorb.oga; November 2, 1906, Berlin – March 30, 1959, Moscow) ...

(1906-1959) *

Vsevolod Aksyonov Vsevolod Nikolayevich Aksyonov (russian: Всеволод Николаевич Аксёнов; 19 April 1902 – 29 March 1960) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1947).Mira Mendelson Mariya-Cecilia Abramovna Mendelson-Prokofieva ( rus, Мари́я-Цеци́лия Абра́мовна Мендельсо́н-Проко́фьева), typically referred to as Mira Mendelson ( rus, Ми́ра Алекса́ндровна Мен ...

(1915-1963) *

Ivan Agayants Ivan Ivanovich Agayants (russian: Иван Иванович Агаянц) (28 August 1911 – 12 May 1968) was a leading Soviet Union, Soviet NKVD/KGB intelligence officer of Armenians, Armenian origin. Early life Born the son of Hovhanes Agayant ...

(1911-1968) * Vasily Azhayev (1915-1968) * Abram Isaakovich Alikhanov (1904-1970) *

Nikolai Basistiy Nikolai Efremovich Basistiy () ( – 20 October 1971) was an officer of the Soviet Navy. He rose to the rank of admiral and was commander of the Black Sea Fleet, in a career that spanned the First and Second World Wars, and the Russian Civil ...

(1898-1971) *

Sergey Konenkov Sergey Timofeyevich Konenkov (Сергей Тимофеевич Коненков) (also Sergei Konyonkov) (russian: Серге́й Тимофеевич Конёнков; – 9 December 1971) was a Russian and Soviet sculptor. He was often c ...

(1874–1971) *

(1894-1971) *

Andrei Abrikosov Andrei Lvovich Abrikosov (russian: Андрей Львович Абрикосов; 14 November 1906 – 21 October 1973) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1968). Biography He was born in Simferopol to ...

(1906-1973) *

Averky Aristov Averky Borisovich Aristov (russian: Аверкий Борисович Аристов) (4 November 1903 – 11 July 1973) was a Soviet politician and diplomat. Biography Born at Krasny Yar in Astrakhan Governorate, he was the son of a fis ...

(1903–1973) * Nikolay Kuznetsov (1904-1974) *

Yevgeny Vuchetich Yevgeny Viktorovich Vuchetich (–12 April 1974) (russian: Евгений Викторович Вучетич; uk, Євген Вікторович Вучетич, ''Evhen Viktorovych Vuchetych'') was a prominent Soviet sculptor and artist. He is ...

(1908–1974) *

Nikolai Bulganin Nikolai Alexandrovich Bulganin (russian: Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Булга́нин; – 24 February 1975) was a Soviet politician who served as Minister of Defense (1953–1955) and Premier of the Soviet Union (1955–1 ...

(1895-1975) *

(1906-1975) *

(1904-1976) *

Filipp Golikov Filipp Ivanovich Golikov (russian: Фили́пп Ива́нович Го́ликов, links=no; July 30, 1900 – July 29, 1980) was a Soviet military commander. As chief of the GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate), he is best known for failing to ...

(1900-1980) *

Nikolai Podgorny Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny, ''Mykola Viktorovych Pidhornyy'' rus, Никола́й Ви́кторович Подго́рный, p=nʲɪkɐˈlaj ˈvʲiktərəvʲɪtɕ pɐdˈgornɨj, links=yes ( – 12 January 1983) was a Soviet statesman who ...

(1903-1983) *

Nikolai Tomsky Nikolai Vasilyevich Tomsky (russian: Никола́й Васи́льевич То́мский b. , Ramushevo, Novgorod Governorate d. 22 November 1984 - Moscow) was a much-decorated Soviet sculptor, designer of many well-known ceremonial monumen ...

(1900–1984) *

Pavel Batov Pavel Ivanovich Batov (russian: Па́вел Ива́нович Ба́тов; – April 19, 1985) was a senior Red Army general during the Second World War and afterwards, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Batov fought in World War I, where he ...

(1897-1985) *

(1902-1985) *

Vyacheslav Molotov Vyacheslav Mikhaylovich Molotov. ; (;. 9 March Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O._S._25_February.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Old Style and New Style dates">O. S. 25 February">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dat ...

(1890-1986) *

Andrei Gromyko Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko (russian: Андрей Андреевич Громыко; be, Андрэй Андрэевіч Грамыка; – 2 July 1989) was a Soviet communist politician and diplomat during the Cold War. He served as ...

(1909-1989) *

Semyon Kurkotkin Semyon Konstantinovich Kurkotkin (russian: Семё́н Константи́нович Курко́ткин; 13 February 1917 – 16 September 1990) was a Soviet military commander and a Marshal of the Soviet Union. Born near Moscow, Kurkotkin at ...

(1917-1990) *

Grigori Abrikosov Grigori Andreyevich Abrikosov (russian: Григорий Андреевич Абрикосов; 30 August 1932 – 13 April 1993) was a Soviet stage and film actor. He was the son of Andrei Abrikosov. Filmography Awards * Honored Artist of t ...

(1932-1993) *

(1905-1994) *

Mikhail Anikushin Mikhail Konstantinovich Anikushin (russian: Михаил Константинович Аникушин; (19 September 1917, Moscow – 18 May 1997, Saint Petersburg) was a famous Soviet and Russian sculptor. Among his most famous works are a m ...

(1917–1997) *

(1905-1997) *

Yuri Nikulin Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (russian: Юрий Владимирович Никулин; 18 December 1921 – 21 August 1997) was a Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films. He is best known for his roles in Leonid ...

(1921-1997) *

Raisa Gorbacheva Raisa Maximovna Gorbacheva (russian: link=no, Раи́са Макси́мовна Горбачёва Romanized ''Raisa Maksimovna Gorbachyova'', , Титаренко; 5 January 1932 – 20 September 1999) was a Soviet-Russian activist and phil ...

(1932-1999) *

Sergey Afanasyev Sergey Afanasyev may refer to: *Sergey Afanasyev (engineer) (1918–2001), Soviet engineer and space and defense industry executive * Sergey Afanasyev (athlete) (born 1964), Russian middle-distance runner, in 1989 European Athletics Indoor Champio ...

(1918-2001) *

Alexander Lebed Lieutenant General Alexander Ivanovich Lebed (russian: Алекса́ндр Ива́нович Ле́бедь, link=no; 20 April 1950 – 28 April 2002) was a Soviet and Russian military officer and politician who held senior positions in the Ai ...

(1950-2002) *

Lev Kerbel Lev Yefimovich Kerbel (russian: Лев Ефимович Кербель; – 14 August 2003) was a sculptor of Soviet realist works. Kerbel's creations included statues of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Yuri Gagarin, which were sent by Soviet Gove ...

(1917–2003) *

(1927-2007) *

(1931-2007) *

Lyudmila Zykina Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina (russian: link=no, Людми́ла Гео́ргиевна Зы́кина; 10 June 1929 – 1 July 2009) was a national folk singer of Russia. She was born in Moscow and joined the Pyatnitsky Choir in 1947. Her surna ...

(1929-2009) *

Vyacheslav Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Tikhonov (russian: Вячесла́в Васи́льевич Ти́хонов; 8 February 1928, in Pavlovsky Posad – 4 December 2009, in Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian actor whose best known role was as Soviet spy, S ...

(1928-2009) *

Vladimir Arnold Vladimir Igorevich Arnold (alternative spelling Arnol'd, russian: link=no, Влади́мир И́горевич Арно́льд, 12 June 1937 – 3 June 2010) was a Soviet and Russian mathematician. While he is best known for the Kolmogorov–A ...

(1937-2010) *

Lyudmila Gurchenko Lyudmila Markovna Gurchenko (née Gurchenko; russian: link=no, Людмила Марковна Гурченко; 12 November 1935 – 30 March 2011) was a popular Soviet and Russian actress, singer and entertainer. She was given the honorary title ...

(1935-2011) *

Victor Merzhanov Victor Karpovich Merzhanov (russian: Ви́ктор Ка́рпович Мержа́нов) (15 August 191920 December 2012) was a Russian pianist and People's Artist of the USSR (1990). Biography Merzhanov was born in Tambov and studied at Tamb ...

(1919-2012) * Sergey Sokolov (1911-2012) *

Ernst Neizvestny Ernst Iosifovich Neizvestny (russian: Эрнст Ио́сифович Неизве́стный; 9 April 1925 – 9 August 2016) was a Russian sculptor, painter, graphic artist, and art philosopher. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1976 and lived and ...

(1925–2016) * Yury Mikhailovich Luzhkov (1936-2019) *

Vladimir Zhirinovsky Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky, ''né'' Eidelshtein (russian: link=false, Эйдельштейн) (25 April 1946 – 6 April 2022) was a Russian right-wing populist politician and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) f ...

(1946-2022) *

(1931-2022)

References

External links

Unofficial site. Hi-resolution photos

Famous and picturesque (24) memorials photographed June 2005

Novodevichii Cemetery
– article from the ''

Great Soviet Encyclopedia The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; ) is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya e ...